5 Ways to Help an Addict While he is Away at Rehab

5 Ways to Help an Addict While he is Away at Rehab

Unless your friend is still living at home with parents and has no bills or responsibilities, he/she is going to need some help while at rehab. The five main reasons addicts worry about being gone are:
  • Pets: If you are an animal lover, you might offer to take his pet in and take of him until your friend comes back. If you aren’t able to do this or you don’t really like animals, offer to help him find a suitable foster placement for the pet with family, friends or a non-profit foster organization.
  • Mail: Bills don’t wait for people to come home from rehab.  Can your friend forward his mail to you? Then you can take it to him when you visit or mail it to him in a bulk package if he will be too far away for visits.
  • Support: When an addict agrees to rehab, he is agreeing to start life over. Offer to write to him and then make sure you do so. Sending a card every few days and a letter once a week, will remind him that he does have sober friends out here.Video:  Interview about helping a friend
  • Contact person: Have him make a list of people he would like to know where he is so they don’t worry. Send them private messages on social media, email or make a phone call to keep them informed on his progress and when he completes the program and is ready to come home.
  • Home/Yard care: The minimum stay for rehab is typically 28 days.  During the warm months the grass will need several cuttings within that time and plants will need watering. Offer to do it or help him find friends and relatives that are willing to sign up for rotating shifts.
Final thoughts: Taking care of these things for him while he is gone might take some of your time, but you will be doing a valuable service for someone who might be so stressed about going to rehab, that he cannot make these decisions without your assistance. Related: Why should I do anything for him after all he did?